But it affords some relief to the mind, in dwelling on this gloomy prospect, to find here and there a ruin less ruined than others--a lonely column not _fallen_; a prostrate pillar not covered with _moss_ nor buried in the _earth_. The soul of man is not susceptible of _utter_ ruin. Immortal, it cannot _die_; the inspiration of the Almighty, and glorious once in his own image, it may grow _dim_, but not utterly _dark_; it may _sink_, but will _rise_ again; it may _wander_, but will not be finally _lost_. My remarks on this subject, therefore, will be designed to shew, that there are, in this mass of dark, polluted, and fallen mind, some redeeming traits remaining _unruined_; something to admire and commend--something to imitate and love. In doing this, I shall relate some of the many historic incidents, which will prove the existence, and illustrate the nature of those moral and intellectual principles, which have hitherto survived that annihilating process to which they have been exposed. The first incidents which I shall relate, will show that the prisoners have _sympathy_ for, and take pleasure in _relieving the distressed_. A female who had a husband in the prison, came with her two children, three hundred miles to see him. By the time she arrived, she had spent all her money, and had suffered on the road. As soon as this was known, the prisoners made up a purse of fourteen dollars, and gave it to her, besides giving her cloth to dress both of her children. Another time a father and mother came there to see their son, and being destitute, a purse of eight dollars was made up for them. Another occasion for the charity of the prisoners was as follows:--The sentences of two of the prisoners had expired, but not having the money to pay the cost of their prosecution, they were not permitted by the keeper to leave the prison. When this was known, the sum required was immediately made up and given to them, and they were discharged. By another train of incidents, it will appear, that they are pleased with religious worship, and love to hear the preaching of the gospel. They always attend when there is preaching, and listen with a degree of interest and earnestness, which no preacher has failed to notice. When, after years of earnest application, they obtained leave to form a choir of singers for religious purposes, they furnished their own books and instruments, not being able to get them of the keepers. On another occasion, a company of them bought a lot of tracts for gratuitous distribution in the prison. As an expression of their sense of the importance of preaching, and of the faithfulness of their Chaplain, they gave him money to purchase him a coat. At another time, they contributed about twenty dollars to a society which had been formed to send the gospel to prisons. A cluster of promiscuous incidents which I am now going to group together, will demonstrate the existence of _other_ excellent qualities.